Dr. Stadler has been at Wheeling Jesuit University since 2008.  He received his B.S. from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, an M.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Politics from New York University.

Dr. Stadler’s scholarly interests are derived from the belief that a democratic public is made up of relationships or ways of relating that are based on assumptions not so much about what we are as about what we must be.  As citizens, we cannot afford to lose the sense of politics that goes beyond what governments do or the sense of ourselves as political beings.  Every individual has a stake in the decisions of the political community because those decisions affect everyone.  “People” to quote David Mattews, “only acquire the competencies of democratic citizens when they are confronted with the responsibilities of that citizenship.  Not to expect us to be the best citizens we can be is fatal because not trying is the death of democracy.”  This in turns leads to the conviction that politics – America’s democratic potential – need not remain as it is, that we can always do better.

Dr. Stadler’s research interests focus on the office of the presidency, and the complexities of self-government as people try to balance private lives with public responsibilities.  He has presented his findings at both national and international conferences.

Courses Taught:
POS 110: American Political Process
POS 242: State and Local Government
POS 305: The American Presidency
POS 306: The American Congress
POS 329: Constitutional Law
POS 330: Civil Rights and Liberties
SSC 489: Senior Seminar